UN Day in Kazakhstan: Celebrating Cultural Heritage and Global Unity

Today the United Nations Day was celebrated in Astana with a performance of the Kazakh musical “Jibek” at the Zhastar Theatre, bringing together over 300 attendees from the Government, diplomatic corps, civil society, media, academia, and the private sector. This year’s event emphasized Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and celebrated the strong partnership between Kazakhstan and the UN in promoting peace, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation.

Organized by the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Kazakhstan the event highlighted the role of culture in uniting communities and fostering resilience. UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in Kazakhstan Stephen O'Malley, addressed the audience, noting: "This is my fifth day in the country, and the shapan I’m wearing today is a sign of how quickly Kazakh culture takes root in people. I believe it is thanks to the overwhelming warmth of the people. Today, we remind ourselves that the United Nations is all of us, for all of us, and by all of us." Reflecting on global challenges, he emphasized the importance of working together to address crises and foster sustainable development: “Hope alone is not enough, we must work together to find solutions for peace, shared prosperity, and a thriving planet. It just reconfirms how important youth is for the United Nations. Young people are our greatest asset, bursting with creativity, passion, and the driver of change. We are sure to see this passion today”.

O'Malley also acknowledged Kazakhstan’s commitment to multilateralism, recognizing its leadership in promoting nuclear disarmament, climate action, and humanitarian response and its dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals. He praised the enduring partnership between Kazakhstan and the UN, supported by Kazakhstan’s substantial contributions to the UN Country Team.

First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Akan Rakhmetullin emphasized: “Kazakhstan has been fruitfully cooperating with the UN being a coherent advocate and active promoter of its ideals and goals. Many of our initiatives put forward from the high rostrum of the UN have been successfully implemented and recognized by global community”.

The centerpiece of the celebration was the “Jibek” musical, performed by young artists from the Zhastar Theatre. The production, based on the XVI-century Kazakh epic poem Qyz-Jibek narrates a timeless tale of love, friendship, courage, and resilience. The immortal story of love has been given fresh meaning and a renewed form of dialogue with the audience. Yevgeniy Brusilovskiy’s classical music, arranged in a contemporary style, captivated the audience with its depth and artistic resonance. The Zhastar Theatre set within Astana’s Railway Palace of Culture—a 1954 landmark by architect V. Kalmykov—provided a fitting venue, merging Kazakhstan’s historical and cultural essence with the forward-looking mission of the UN.

"The touching and tragic love story of Tolegen and the beautiful Jibek is known to everyone in our country. This tale became the foundation of the first Kazakh opera, Qyz-Jibek, created by composer Yevgeniy Brusilovskiy 85 years ago. For UN Day, the creative team of the Zhastar Theater presents its own interpretation of Brusilovskiy’s music and Gabit Musrepov’s libretto. Our credo is to experiment and speak to the younger generation in their own language,” says Nurkanat Zhaqypbay, director of the musical. “We’ve brought the epic poem’s action closer to our time, retelling the story in the expressive language of dance".

In addition to the performance, the event featured the UN&Me photo exhibition, which displayed portraits of UN beneficiaries in Kazakhstan and illustrated the UN’s impact on communities and individuals throughout the country.

This year’s UN Day celebration stands as a tribute to Kazakhstan's enduring partnership with the UN and to the power of cultural heritage, youth engagement, and international cooperation in advancing a sustainable future for all. Observed annually, UN Day is a global reminder of the UN’s mission to promote peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights worldwide.